Bassmaster Classic: Jay Przekurat's Practice At Ray Roberts - March 18, 2025
Practice
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1h 5m
Jay Przekurat joins Bass University live to discuss his practice sessions leading up to the Bassmaster Classic on Lake Ray Roberts in Texas, describing the lake as "a little stingy". A significant issue for this upcoming event is the wind, which everyone was talking about affecting the fishing conditions, perhaps even causing a cancellation of a tournament day.
Regarding Ray Roberts Lake, the location of the Classic, Jay noted the low water levels and suspected it might be due to a drought. He described the lake as "very featureless" with limited shoreline structure and not a lot of bass, but has big bass. He mentioned the presence of rock and wood as the primary types of cover, with some sparse and mostly dead grass. Given these conditions, Jay believed that LiveScope would be a key technique for anglers.
Jay also shared his mindset about competing in the Classic. He mentioned enjoying the "mystery of it" and the fact that there were no points on the line, which allowed him to fish more freely compared to Elite Series events.
The conversation also touched on the recent rule changes regarding co-anglers in the Opens. Jay had success and learned a great deal as an Opens co-anglers. Jay shared his initial positive reaction but later expressed some disappointment that co-anglers would now not have that learning opportunity. He suggested that Bass Nation could be a good alternative for those looking to learn and advance in competitive fishing.
Finally, Jay briefly mentioned attending a crawfish boil the night before, which was a fundraiser for St. Jude's and was attended by many of the Classic contenders.
Key Topics Live With Jay Przekurat
1:30: Introduction of Jay Przekurat and Excitement for the Classic - Jay Przekurat is introduced as a friend of Bass University, a longtime subscriber, and now an instructor. He expresses his excitement about being at the upcoming Bassmaster Classic.
2:23: Jay's Practice and Initial Impressions of Lake Ray Roberts - Jay discusses his practice leading up to the tournament, noting it has been "a little stingy". He begins to touch on his initial impressions of the lake.
3:24: Wind as a Major Factor and Comparison to Past Classics - The conversation highlights the wind as a significant factor everyone is discussing. Jay draws a comparison to his first Classic where practice was also tough.
5:12: Expectations for Catching Big Bass and Lake Characteristics - Despite a tough practice, Jay expresses his belief that big bass live in Texas lakes. He describes Ray Roberts as a "very featureless lake" and discusses the limited cover, including timber in the east arm and more isolated features in the west.
9:30: Navigation Challenges Due to Low Water and Timber - The low water levels and the abundance of timber, especially in the east arm, are discussed as making navigation treacherous.
12:45: Tough Fishing Conditions and Mindset for the Classic - Jay anticipates tough fishing conditions and reiterates the challenging nature of the fishery. He transitions into discussing his mindset for the Classic.
14:40: Dealing with Distractions and Enjoying the "Mystery" of the Classic - Jay talks about how he deals with the distractions at the Classic and emphasizes that he enjoys the "mystery" of the event, where the outcome on any given day can be surprising.
17:31: Strategy for the Tournament and Lake Comparison - Jay discusses his potential strategies for the tournament, including revisiting areas from practice. He also draws a comparison between Lake Ray Roberts and Lake Fork.
22:55: Focus on Conventional Techniques and Mindset Under Pressure - The conversation touches on the potential for "old school" techniques to be effective. Pete praises Jay's ability to stay cool under pressure at the Classic.
29:33: Pressure to Weigh Fish and Past Tournament Experiences - Jay and Pete discuss the pressure to bring fish to the scales, even if it means sacrificing the chance for a bigger bag. They briefly revisit Jay's first Classic and his 2nd place finish this year in Florida.
33:23: Crawfish Boil Fundraiser and Focus on the Final Hour of Competition - Jay mentions attending the crawfish boil fundraiser for St. Jude's. The conversation ends with the importance of competing hard until the very last minute of a tournament.
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